Panthers Polish reinforcements - an interview by Slowo Sportowe

Filip Snopek

How did you get to the Panthers? When did you hear about their interest for you? How was the conversation with coach Samel? Reveal some backstage of moving to Wrocław.

I came to the November try out at the urging of Alex [Powar] - we've always had a great cooperation in training and we encourage each other to work hard. It is true that initially I did not plan to appear at try outs, but it turned out quite by accident that I would be visiting my sister in Wrocław anyway ... so it can be said that fate wanted it that way. We were both invited to the office right after the try outs and coach told us that he saw us as part of the team. It is true that no declarations could be made immediately (we were bound by a contract with Warsaw Mets until the end of 2021), but we both knew that this was the best chance for development and a milestone on our football path. Before the contract expired, we talked to the trainer calmly and factually answered our questions. After this conversation, I already knew what decisions I would make.

Have you had the opportunity to compete with the Panthers? Do you have any memories of the city? The Olympic Stadium?

I have played 2 times against the Panthers in the past, once at the Olympic Stadium. I think most of the football community will agree with me that it is a sweet and sour experience - admiration for the facility and professionalism of the organization is mixed here with bitterness after a high-loss game. Nevertheless, I have good memories of this match, it was held on my Dad's birthday, who had the opportunity to watch me from the stands.

Your greatest achievement in football? Team and individual?

Last year I was awarded as an off-the-field player and the team's MIP. Also, a few of my plays are on the League's defensive plays of the week.

What do you do besides playing football? What are your hobbies?

Professionally I am an audio technician, currently I manage a team in one of the leading companies on this market. Outside of work, I like film, music and everything related to it, i.e. cinema, concerts and other similar events. And of course, in my spare time I like to spend a moment in front of the console. Besides, on warm days, I like to spend time in the city.

This will be your first season at the Panthers, so what are your plans? What do you want to prove?

The goal of this season is clear - learn as much as possible and make as much progress as possible as a player. Football is a team sport, each player has a specific task set for himself - I focus on doing my best when the time comes. If I do well, the results will definitely come.

You are active in social media. You add photos, posts, even summarized the season. Do you like such interaction?

Yes, last season I decided to become more active on social media. I think that as long as they do not distract from the set goals and work to be done, they are a good tool to promote your passion among friends for whom American football is still an exotic discipline. Many people write to me, support me, ask where and when they can see matches etc. It is a great motivation for further work, but also a good way to account for the work done.

Bartosz Woźniak

How did you get to the Panthers? When did you hear about their interest for you? How was the conversation with coach Samel? Reveal some backstage of moving to Wrocław.

William James, who played for Panther Wrocław, contacted me with the Panthers, and in fact with coach Samel. With William, we played for the same team in league games and for the Swedish national team. After the training camp in Stockholm before the final of the European Championships, me and coach Samel wrote several times. We finally arranged an interview. Then there were more talks and more. We started talking about the possibility of playing for the Panthers. Everything went very well.

I have just bought an apartment with my girlfriend in Stockholm, where we have only been living for two months and it is a bit difficult for her that I am leaving for so long. But at the same time, she's very proud of me and will do just fine. For me, of course, it's a bit hard to travel too, but I'm very happy to be able to play in the top league in Europe and also in one of the best organizations in Europe.

Have you had the opportunity to compete with the Panthers? Do you have any memories of the city? The Olympic Stadium?

I met the Panthers twice playing Lowlanders Białystok in 2020. The first game I played in Poland was against the Panthers. We met again in the final. We played the final at the Olympic Stadium in Wrocław. Despite the result, I have very good memories of the match. Beautiful stadium, nice atmosphere. I perceived the final in Wrocław as a very positive experience. What I remember most about the visit to the city are the trams. Lots of trams.

Your greatest achievement in football? Team and individual?

My greatest team and individual success is playing for the Swedish national team in the final match of the European Championship, where we met Italy. Unfortunately, we lost the match. But still, it is silver at European Championship.

What do you do besides playing football? What are your hobbies?

In addition to playing football, I work as a teacher at the school where I studied before. In my spare time, apart from football training, I play hockey for an amateur team.

This will be your first season at the Panthers, so what are your plans? Are you going to prove something?

This will be my first season with the Panthers and my first season with the ELF so I am very motivated to play against the best of the best in Europe. I will want to prove that this is my place and that it deserves to play with the best.

You played in the Swedish league and in ... the Swedish national team. How did you get there?

I started playing football as a junior. I climbed all the junior levels. Then, as a 17-year-old, I went to the seniors, where I played in the first league for the first time. The following season, as an 18-year-old, I was already playing Superserien. There I realized that all players play faster, better and more aggressively. It gave me a lot of new experiences as a player. Later there was the national team of Sweden where I played two games. The first against Finland and the second against Italy in the European Championship final.

The coach BD Kennedy, who is also the coach of Carlstad Crusaders, invited me to the national team. I had a lot of contacts with this coach for several years, until in the summer of 2021 he invited me to a training camp before the match against Finland. Which made me very happy.

Alex Powar

How did you get to the Panthers? When did you hear about their interest for you? How was the conversation with coach Samel? Reveal some backstage of moving to Wrocław.

Panthers were organizing tryouts to the first team. Before the tests, coach Samel wrote to me and offered to participate in the tests and expressed his willingness to join the team for the upcoming season. The whole "recruitment" interview went smoothly, we quickly agreed on the conditions that would suit both sides and thus it was decided that in 2022 I would join Panthers Wrocław.

Have you had the opportunity to compete with the Panthers? Do you have any memories of the city? The Olympic Stadium?

When it comes to the previous rivalry with the Panthers, I played against the team from Wrocław two times, in both cases we got the lesson by losing high. Such matches make us become better players, because only by playing with the best you can develop. Fortunately, now I have this opportunity in every training.

Your greatest achievement in football? Team and individual?

Achievements are still ahead of me.

What do you do besides playing football? What are your hobbies?

In addition to football, I work in the family business, I study. I like to get to know new cuisines and flavors, especially Asian ones. I also have a teaser for drawing, which gives me a moment to de-stress and take my mind away from my daily duties. I started playing golf some time ago and I enjoy it a lot. When I don't play football anymore, I see myself on the golf course.

This will be your first season at the Panthers, so what are your plans? Are you going to prove something?

I definitely want to prove my worth to the team in the first season. My personal goal is always to play in the first squad and gain knowledge from the more experienced players, whom I have plenty in the Panthers.

On Instagram I saw photos from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Vietnam ... Do you like traveling? What interesting places have you been to and what are your plans?

I really like traveling, getting to know new cultures, customs and cuisines of the world. I think my favorite trip so far has been Vietnam. I liked the diversity of Vietnam from the hustle and bustle of the capital to beautiful mountainous terrain and beautiful coastal areas. The next dream destination is Japan, it is definitely a country that I have been wanting to visit for a long time.

Mateusz Samczuk

How did you get to the Panthers? When did you hear about their interest for you? How was the conversation with coach Samel? Reveal some backstage of moving to Wrocław.

Panthers representatives contacted me at the end of last year. I suspect that my season in the GFL could have played a significant role here, we didn't win the title, but we managed to enter the playoff stage. As for the contact with coach Samel, he made a big impression on me from the very beginning. He is a professional with great football knowledge, after talking to him, I knew that I was in good hands.

Have you had the opportunity to compete with the Panthers? Do you have any memories of the city? The Olympic Stadium?

Rivaling the Panthers has always been a crucial part of our season. It was very hard, but it gave me a lot of satisfaction. It was a war for every point and yard. Undoubtedly, the fondest memory from Wroclaw is the victory against Panthers in the final in 2018. It was a great match that kept you in suspense until the last seconds. It seems to me that no game so far has given me as much satisfaction as winning in Wrocław.

Your greatest achievement in football? Team and individual?

I rate two achievements the highest: the aforementioned victory with Wrocław in 2018. It is known that this is a group achievement, because even the best player is nothing without his team. When it comes to individual achievements, definitely getting into the GFL and individual awards given by our team. For 3 years I have been chosen by the team as the best player in the OL position. Such awards are especially worth a lot to me, because they are awarded by the people you play and train with on a daily basis.

What do you do besides playing football? What are your hobbies?

As for my job, I am a teacher. I work in one of the primary schools in Białystok as a librarian and history teacher. In the few free time I read books (mainly historical and fantasy) and I deal with historical reenactment (the era of the first Piasts).

This will be your first season at the Panthers, so what are your plans? Are you going to prove something?

First of all, I want to compete with the best players from all over Europe. Panthers are a very good organization that brings together the best players from Poland. Also, I hope that I will not be too far from them in terms of level and that I will help the team fight for the championship.

You have an intense year ahead of you - you will play the PFL season for Lowlanders first, then for the Panthers and EFL. You will join even after the EFL has started… Do you see it as a challenge? Do you have a plan to deal with the hardships of the season?

This is my second season in this form. The year before, I joined the GFL after playing a season with Lowlanders. It seems to me that the key here is proper preparation. I regularly train on the sports field and at the gym, I take care of supplementation, and I do not forget about visits to a physiotherapist and regular stretching and strengthening of the body. I have the impression that thanks to this I have a lot of strength and I was able to save myself from more serious injuries.

Arkadiusz Barski; Słowo Sportowe 2022

Translation: Panthers Wroclaw